Sound-reproducing mechanism.



C. HQALLEN.

SOUND REPRODUCING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 28, 1917.

. w 24 as E7'\2\\\ 18 Patented Aug. 20, 1918.

UNITED STATES PATENT onricn.

CHARLES H. ALLEN, 0F CLAREMONT, NEW HAIPSHIBE'.

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Specification of Letters Patent;

Patented Aug. 20, 1918,

' Application filed May 38, 1917. SeriaINo. 171,561.

a To all whom it mag concern:

Be it known that I, OHAnLnsH. ALLEN,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Claremont, in the county of Sullivan and produce such a record in an improved manner whereby it is possible to reach the soft tones and at the same time possible to reproduce the loud tones without blasting. These and other objects of my improvement will, however, hereinafter mor fully appear.

In order that my invent on may be clearly and fully disclosed, I have shown for pur-' poses of illustration in the accompanying drawings one embodi ment-which' the same may assume in practice.

In these drawings, Figure 1 is a partial central sectional view of the box the needle'arm being shown partially in elevation.

Fi 2 is an enlarged detail sectional view showing the disk supporting and clamping means, the view being taken onthe same line as Fig. 1.

In this illustrative construction, it will be noted that I have shown a sound box 1, formed of any suitable material and preferably of bronze, having an open front and an axial sound opening 2 in itsv rear wall adapted tocoincide with a suitable registering opening 3 in a sound arm or in a sleeve 4, attached to the member ,1 by suitable means, as screws 5, and itself adapted to be suitably removably attached to a sound arm,

or if desired to be formed integral with such an element. As shown, it will also be noted that this box'l is provided with a flanged portion 6 on its periphery, and that within this flanged. portion is disposed the "reproducing mechanism, the same being clamped in operative position within the flange by suitable means, hereinshown to include, for

instance, a removable ring 7, preferably threaded at 8 to .the inner periphery of the flair e. A T e reproducing mechanism carried withm the box 1 is shown herein to. comprise a plurality of flexable disks 9 and 10 herein of substantially equal thickness, which while they ma be made of equivalent material, are pre erably formed of relatively thick mica, as I find that, in my improved construction, this material is well adapted to accurate reproduction over a wide range of sound. As shown,,these two disks 9 and 10 are of slightly less diameter than the inner dlameter of the box and are disposed therein parallel to each other and with their outer surfaces ad acent their peripheries engageable with suitable washers 11 'which are formed of amaterial adapted to permit the dISkS to slide readily during abnormal vibrations, and yet during normal vibrations hold the disks within the desired clamped relation established by the ring 7.. While other materials having an equivalent funotion may be usedin making these washers, I 1plrl'elterably form the same of chamois, as I. d that this material permits the disks to slide readily and that it also possesses excelof my invention, I also coat or load the surface of these chamois washers with some friction reducing substance, as for instance talc or an equivalent, in such a manner as thereby further to enhance the facility of movement of the disks by further reducing the friction. As shown, not only are the washers 11 disposed on opposite sides of the -lent wearing qualities. In a preferred formmembers 9 and 10 but another washer 11 of the same material, and preferably simi-" 'larlytreated, is preferably disposed between the inner surfaces adjacent the peripheries of the disks. As illustrated, suitable yielding mountings, as for instance rubber rings" 12, are preferably also disposed on the op.

posite sides of the-outside washers 11, one of the same preferably being seated in a suitable annular groove ,13 provided near the base of the innerperiphery of the flange 6, while the other is adapted to engage the clamping means andbe compressed thereby to compress the other elements into the desired operative relation described above. In apreferred form of my invention I also provide a suitable means between the outer to the same the vibration of the element" which engages the record. These means may obviously assume various forms. They are, however, herein shown as of the needle type including .an exterior radially extending preferably rigid needle arm 18 v1bratably supported, as on a suitable freely moving pivot 19, on a suitable support 20, preferably attached to the box 1. As shown, the outer end of the needle carrying arm is provided with a record traversing needle 2lof.

usual form removably attached thereto by any suitable means, as by a setscrew 22. lt

will be noted, moreover, that the inner end of this arm 18 is provided with an inwardly extending portion 23 disposed. substantially at right angles thereto and to the disks, and preferably of reduced. cross section and resiliently connected to the body portion of the member 18 as by an elbow 24, preferably formed by further reducing the material at the elbow. It will also be noted that this portion 23 is provided with a suitably formed foot piece 25 disposed substantially eoaxially with the disks and preferably fiattened and smooth on its under surface so that it may lie upon the outer surface of the outer disk ill and be rigidly attached. thereto and preferably also rigidly attached. to the inner disk so that the di ks are under equal stress. As shown, it will be noted that a suitable attaching member, as for instance s w 2 6, is provided, which is threaded i to a suitable ally opening in this foot 25, a washer 27 preferably formed of metal or other equivalent material being disposed be tween h ad of the screw and surface of he disk 9 to protect the latter, while body of the screw extends bfllOllgll suitable .al perforations the disks 9 u it) to the foot As shown, s washer 28 is disposed. around. the screw and between the disks 9 and 10, this washer preferably being formed of same material as the washers and treated in the same manner,

As a result of my improved construction, it will be noted that, when the needle arm 18 is moved through its engagement with a record, the disks 9 and 10 will be vibrated through the resilient connection 24, 23, the

ipraied of accurate reproduction of the device is materially increased, the same being adapted to, reproduce even the third register without fiatting, at the same time that it is made possible to reproduce those delicate modulations giving the so-called naturalness to a tone. By the use of my improved construction, it is also possible not only thus to increase materially the range and accuracy of reproduction, but to reproduce very loud sounds without blasting, the blasting being edectively overcome through the use of my improved mounting for the disks whereby when the same are expanded beyond their normal range, as, for example, by a heavy bass note, the same are enabled to move freely in their supports and without the introduction of foreign sounds resulting from friction.

ln my improved construction, it has been observed that it is possible to use even rela tively thin and highly flexible disks of mica without encountering the dificulties in the way of blasting heretofore encounteredwith rep-reducers utilizing a single thin disk. llt has also been observed that, at the same time that blasting is overcome, l am able to over come the diiliculties in reaching low or soft tones heretofore experienced with those producer wherein a relatively thick disk has been in eii t to .I. *oid the blastcountered Iln fact, in proved co. herein the dislrs the same is applied to t e most as records, the sound produce l hot .n volume f p more na quality than is obt ble nth an nown reproducer of tee si lt has further true regardless o ol the original sound, my 1. 1 ing mechanism particularly be 3 is effective in bringing out either soft tones clearly or loud tones without blasting. lln the use of my improved construction, it has also been found that it is adapted at will to use upon machines of either the hill and dale or lateral type, it only being necessary to adjust the soundbox into the desired an gle relative to the record. Attention is here also directed to the fact that as a result of my rig,

ll ll t3 l. l it 'improved and simplified construction, the device may be very readily and cheaply v be understood that the same is shown herein for purposes of illustration and that the in-' vention may be modified and'embodied in various other forms without departing'from' its spirit, it being my intention to include all such modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a sound reproducing mechanism, a sound box, a lurality of operatively connected reprod licing elements therein disposed parallel to one another, and, means whereby said elements may coiiperate freely,

in either direction.

2.'In a sound reproducing mechanism, a sound box, a plurality of operatively connected reproducing elements therein disposed parallel to one another, and means in, and vibrating means operatively ed to each of sand elements.

whereby said elements may move freely in unison 1n response to soft or loud tones.

. 3. In a sound reproducing mechanism, a

sound box, a plurality of spaced parallel reproducing elements having their edges clamped to permit a slidingmovement thereconnect- 4. In a sound' reproducing mechanism, a sound box, a plurality of spaced parallel reproducing elements having their edges clamped to permit a sliding movement therein, and re'silient vibrating means operatively connected to each of said elements.

5. In a sound reproducing mechanism, a

sound box, a plurality of spaced reproduc-.

ing elements disposed in paralled planes and having their edges clamped to permit a sliding movement therein, and resilient vibrat ing means operatively cOnnectedto each of said elements. e

'6. In a sound re roducing mechanism, a

sound box, a plurallty of spaced parallel reproducing elements, vibrating means operatively connected to each of'the same and means normally clamping the edges of said elements adapted to permit a free sliding movement of said elements during abnormal vibrations thereof.

' 7. In a sound reproducing mechanism, a

sound boxya lurality of spaced reproducing elements isposed in parallel planes, vi-

brating means rlgidly connected to each of the same, and friction reducing means normally clamping the edges of said elements adapted to permit a free sliding movement sound box, a plurality of spaced para of said elements during abnormal vibrations thereof.

8. In a sound reproducing mechanism, a sound box, a plurality of spaced parallel reproducingflisks,- resllientvibrating means r1g1dly connected .to each of the same, and means normally clamping the surfaces ad- ]acent the peripheries of said disks adapted to emit a free sliding movement of said d1s during abnormal vibrations thereof.

9, In a sound reproducing mechanism, a sound box, a plurality of spaced reproducing dlsks disposed in parallel relation therein, periphera clamping means therefor includfriction reducing surfaces engageable $11 a bly by certain of the surfaces ad acent the peri heries of said disks, and vibrating means or said disks operatively connected to each of the same at the axis thereof.

10. In a sound reproducing mechanism, a

. sound box, a plurality of s aced reproducing of each of said disks, and vibrating means for said disks operatively connected to each of the same at the axis thereof.

12. In a sound reproducing m echanismfia1 e disks therein, peripheral clamping means therefor including surfaces loaded with a friction reducing agent and engageable slidably by the inner and outer perlpheries of said disks, and resilient means for transmitting vibration to said disks rigidly connected to each of the same at the axis thereof.

'13. In a sound reproducing mechanism, a sound .box, a plurality of spaced parallel disks therein, eripheral clamping means therefor includmg washers loaded with a friction reducing agent and enga eable slidably by the inner and outer sur aces adi'acentthe peripheries of said disks and yie ding washers engaging said outside washers, and means for transmitting vibration to said disks operatively connected to each of the same at the axis thereof. 14. In a sound reproducing mechanism, a sound box, a plurality of spaced parallel disks therein, peripheral clamping means means for transmitting vibration to said disks connected to each of the same at the axis thereof and including an axially disposed Washer located between said disks.

15. In a sound reproducing mechanism, a sound box, a plurality ot' spaced substantially parallel disks therein, peripheral clamping means therefor including friction reducing washers engageable slidably by the inner and outer surfaces adjacent the periph: cries of said disks, and means for transmitting vibration to said disks rigidly connected to each of the same at the axis thereof and including an axially disposed friction reducing washer located between said disks.

16. In a sound reproducing mechanism, a sound box, a plurality of spaced parallel disks therein, friction reducing washers engageable slidably by the inner and outer surfaces adjacent the peripheries of said disks, means for clamping said washers and the edges of said disks to said box, a needle arm pivotally supported on said box having a resiliently connected portion disposed substantially coaxially with said disks, and

oi, leaar specification requiring correction as follows: Page 3, line 100, claim ll, before means for rigidly said portion to the axis as each of said disks including an axially disposed friction reducing washer between said disks.

17. In a sound reproducing mechanism, a sound box, a plurality of spaced parallel mica disks therein, chamois Washers loaded with a friction reducing agent and engage,

able slidably by the inner and outer surfaces adjacent the peripheries of said disks, yielding washers cngaging said outside washers, a non-rotating ring interlocked with said box and engaging one of said yielding Washers, a ring threaded into said box and- CHAS, ALLEN.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,276,156, granted Angnst 20, 1918, upon the application of Charles H. Allen, of Clareniont, New Hampshire, for an improvement in f Sonnd-ldeproducing; Mechanism, errors appear in the printed the word surfaces insert the words the inner and outer; same page, line 109, claim 12, before the word peripheries insert the words surfaces adjacent the; seine page and claim, line no, erase the word -resilient, and line ill, for the Word rigidly read opera/finely; and the said Letters rarest should be read with these 25; corrections therein taat same confiornn to the record of in the Signed andsealed rth day other in, 1D,, rare,

' Acting Commissioner of 

